Thank you to everyone who made it out to our Albemarle Data Center Community Meeting this week! It was great to see so many folks so engaged in this important issue. The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) has been giving these types of informative community meetings across our nine-county region for the past four years, and this was one of the most positive receptions we’ve experienced – a testament both to this community and how resonant this issue is with folks. 

Key Takeaways from the presentation by Julie Bolthouse (PEC’s Director of Land Use) and Rob McGinnis (Senior Field Representative for Albemarle & Greene Counties):

• Data center growth is unprecedented, with massive impacts to land, water, air and climate
• We need state and local action
• Get involved with PEC during the State Corporation Commission hearings & the upcoming Virginia General Assembly

What You Can Do Next

• Write to the Board of Supervisors at [email protected]
  • In your own words and emphasizing why this issue is important to you, communicate that data centers above 40,000 sq. ft should be required to go through a Special Use Permit (not by-right), so that community members and elected officials can have a say in proposals in this ever-changing landscape.  
  • Find who your supervisor is here
  • Please copy your email to the Planning Commission: [email protected]
• Speak at a public hearing for up to three minutes (Learn more)
  • Oct. 14*: Planning Commission Public Hearing 
  • Nov. 19*: Board of Supervisors Public Hearing
• Share this information with your friends, neighbors, and family.
• Stay tuned for more info: PEC sends out regular emails about all the issues we work on in Albemarle.  You will receive these updates. Others can sign up for alerts here.

* Dates and new information subject to change

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Recording of Presentation

As promised, below is a list of links and resources we used or mentioned at Tuesday’s meeting. You can also learn more on our website at pecva.org/datacenters.

Presentation Slides

Additional Resources

• Data Center explainer videos
  • PEC: Hidden Costs of the Cloud
  • More Perfect Union: We Found the Hidden Cost of Data Centers. It’s in Your Electric Bill.
  • Business Insider: Exposing The Dark Side of America’s AI Data Center Explosion
• PEC’s Interactive, online map of transmission line proposals
• PEC’s Interactive, online map of proposed data centers
• Handouts at the meeting
  • PEC’s VA General Assembly data center Four Pillars 
  • Albemarle Data Center Ordinance update next steps
• Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition
• The recently launched Virginians for a Smarter Digital Future campaign
• Additional Resources including Reports, Studies, and past webinars 
• Recent news articles
  • Rappahannock News – Analysis: PEC facing off with Big Tech over data centers
  • 29 News: Environmental group launches campaign to raise awareness about data center impacts
  • Fauquier Times: Opinion: Remington is about to be overwhelmed by data centers
  • Prince William Times: Breaking: Judge overturns Prince William Digital Gateway
  • 29 News: Albemarle County grapples with proposed data center regulations 
  • Tech Policy Press: Amidst Boom, Data Center Lobby Expands Its Influence, Spending, and Tactics
  • PBS News: How AI Infrastructure is driving a sharp rise in electricity bills
  • VPAP: Commercial vs. Residential Energy Use

For those of you who aren’t familiar with PEC, our mission is to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. We work on a broad range of issues including data centers, smart growth planning, conservation, and natural resource and habitat protection, as well as outdoor access, trails and bike/pedestrian infrastructure projects.

PEC’s two headquarter offices are located  in Warrenton, Virginia and on East Water Street in downtown Charlottesville. Our Charlottesville staff include:

• Rob McGinnis ([email protected]), Senior Land Use Representative for Albemarle & Greene counties 
• Kim Biasiolli ([email protected]), Conservation Program Manager for Albemarle & Greene counties
• Peter Krebs ([email protected]), Albemarle & Charlottesville Community Advocacy Manager
• Nora Seillheimer ([email protected]), Director of Advancement
• Faith Schweikert ([email protected]), Communications Specialist
• Jessica Edington ([email protected]), Publications Assistant 
• Hugh Kenny ([email protected]), Multimedia Specialist 
• Don McCown ([email protected]), Land Use Representative for Orange & Madison counties 
• Lauria McShane ([email protected]), Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative Assistant

Lastly, PEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with nearly 100% of funding derived from individual donors. Free and informative events like this one are only possible with the support of people like you. Please consider supporting our work by becoming a member or making a one-time donation.

Thanks again for your interest in this issue. 

See you in the community, 

Faith Schweikert 
Communications Specialist 
The Piedmont Environmental Council 
(434) 977-2033 ext. 7026
[email protected] 
http://www.pecva.org